Today we come to you from one of Texas’ once great railroad towns – and though the trains aren’t so much a central part of life here anymore, something else has happened that’s been bringing people, prosperity and a sense of renewal back to Abilene. An AI-focused facility could transform the Big Country region. Ahead of the 2025, legislative session, Stamford Mayor James Decker shares insights on what’s needed for small-town Texas. And: Wylie ISD is enacting a strict no-phone policy to reduce distractions. The post A special broadcast from Abilene appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued two giants of the chemical business, 3M and DuPont, over so-called forever chemicals contained in household objects.A new kind of car needs a new kind of mechanic. The Standard’s Kristen Cabrera goes inside a school for hybrid and electric vehicle repairs.The old art form of tintype photography is being revived in Waco.And: EA recently made 23 of its accessibility patents freely available to help developers create more inclusive games. The post Trade schools thrive as electric vehicle demand grows appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Last night’s chill has many Texans asking how the state’s power grid is looking for the winter. How much has changed since the freeze and blackouts of February 2021? Mose Buchele of KUT News has been keeping tabs.The Texas legislative session hasn’t even started, yet more than one representative claims to be the de facto speaker-elect of the House. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey joins us with the latest.Calling all creatives: Big Bend National Park is accepting applications for its artist-in-residence program.And: What’s in your mug? Mando Rayo, host of the Tacos of Texas podcast, has winter tips for cozy sips. The post Big Bend seeks artists to capture park’s rugged beauty appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

What possible cuts to Medicaid under the new Trump administration could mean in Texas, which already limits coverage.A cold front is blowing through El Paso, bringing high winds and freezing temperatures.Princeton’s growing pains have led to tension in its mayoral runoff election.Most of those involved in high-speed chases by state troopers going after suspected smugglers are teens and young drivers. An interview with one of those behind the wheel.And: We’ll take a look at the two Texas teams that made it into the college playoffs, the Texas Longhorns and the SMU Mustangs. The post Cold snap grips West Texas and the borderlands appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Dade Phelan is out, and a bruising battle for speaker of the Texas House is set to begin – unless it’s already over? Over the weekend, GOP members backed David Cook, but Dustin Burrows claimed he had enough votes to override the caucus. What does a House speaker do, anyway?In a stunning turn of events, a coalition of Syrian rebels has overthrown Bashar al-Assad’s regime, ending decades of dictatorship. A top Texas-based expert weighs in.Has Texas oil toppled Saudi control of the markets?And: Medical treatments for trans minors are banned under state law; why some trans adults say they’re affected, too. The post What exactly does the Texas House speaker do? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Facing a challenge from fellow Republicans, Dade Phelan says he’s dropping his bid for re-election as Texas House speaker.Texas has some of the most expensive insurance in the nation, forcing homeowners to pay more for less coverage.Desert bighorn sheep return to the Franklin Mountains of El Paso, a major milestone in restoring the species.While the area around the UT Austin Tower buzzes with activity, a quieter sanctuary to the north – the Turtle Pond – offers a break from the hustle. The Texas Standard’s Laura Rice takes us to this peaceful pocket and explores how it’s evolving amid campus changes. The post House Speaker Dade Phelan bows out of leadership reelection bid appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about restrictions on gender-affirming care for young people. What a ruling could mean.Texas elected officials will soon have to start disclosing more information about the properties they own – changes that could reveal more about Attorney General Ken Paxton’s recent real estate transactions.Houston-based Enron went very publicly kaput more than 20 years ago. Now, it’s back? We’ll take a closer look.Uranium mining is ramping up again in South Texas, raising questions about the environmental and economic implications.Plus: ChatGPT is known to have its limitations. What one of its blindspots tells us about artificial intelligence. The post Uranium mining poised for a comeback in South Texas appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Martial law has now been lifted in South Korea – Texas’ fourth-largest trading partner – but the effects may not be as short-lived. A top Texas expert tells us why.Ongoing casualties in what was long touted as the war on drugs: Kevin Krause of The Dallas Morning News analyzed a decade of meth sentencing data in North Texas.Texas is known for its ghost towns, spotlighting shifting population dynamics.With nearly half of Texas counties lacking maternity care services, rural mothers face daunting hurdles.And: China has announced a ban on exporting certain rare minerals to the U.S., a move likely to disrupt tech manufacturing and deepen tensions. The post Texas’ ghost towns spotlight rural population shifts appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A climate-friendly fertilizer turned out to be tainted with so-called “forever chemicals” that are killing cattle and other ranch animals.Education Savings Accounts are on the legislative agenda and likely to pass. What they are and why they’re controversial.Historic horse-drawn carriages will become a thing of the past in San Antonio as the city phases them out.Public health experts in Texas say vaccine hesitancy in the state could grow under the new Trump administration.And: the call for research on mountain lions, the state’s last big cat. The post Is new fertilizer behind Texas cattle deaths? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Texas does more business with Mexico than any other nation, and with 25% tariff threats now on the table from President-elect Trump, what should we expect? We’ll take a closer look.The Texas Public Utility Commission issues a report on CenterPoint Energy’s much-criticized response to Hurricane Beryl.Squaring economic data points with how voters felt going into this year’s election.An educational oasis for some students is out of reach for others. A warning about community college deserts. The post How might proposed tariffs on Mexico impact Texas? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.